diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/maxminddb/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/maxminddb/default.nix
index beddba84fbc6..a5ec28f3448c 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/maxminddb/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/maxminddb/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-{ buildPythonPackage, lib, fetchPypi
+{ stdenv, lib, buildPythonPackage, pythonAtLeast
+, fetchPypi
+, libmaxminddb
 , ipaddress
 , mock
 , nose
@@ -13,10 +15,15 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     sha256 = "f4d28823d9ca23323d113dc7af8db2087aa4f657fafc64ff8f7a8afda871425b";
   };
 
+  buildInputs = [ libmaxminddb ];
+
   propagatedBuildInputs = [ ipaddress ];
 
   checkInputs = [ nose mock ];
 
+  # Tests are broken for macOS on python38
+  doCheck = !(stdenv.isDarwin && pythonAtLeast "3.8");
+
   meta = with lib; {
     description = "Reader for the MaxMind DB format";
     homepage = "https://www.maxmind.com/en/home";